As I said before, it can't be overstated, his influence on the Stones and everyone. Yes, he really was that important (although as with Lennon, death helped polish his legacy just a little more than was deserved) and I guess I'm sort of surprised more here don't see his importance. Bob Dylan was utterly awestruck when the Burritos started playing but by then Gram had already been around, and ahead of Dylan in some cases in the country-rock direction music had taken. There's a reason he so dominated the Sweetheart sessions, but because the Byrds were such a big original act on their own it is not surprising I guess that McGinn would erase his vocals on---what was it 3 or 4 songs at least, and replace them with his own? Luckily we have them all today. Anyway Keno, it had nothing to do with money, what he did for music, that is.. Money no doubt helped support his drug habits but musically, the man did his homework, just like Keith, and because he was a talent on top of that he got respect from everybody around.

In terms of Keith, it seems like his mom liked country and he did too, but there is a difference between liking it privately as a fan and incorporating it and fusing it with rock into your own work and output, and that for sure didn't happen until Gram's influence was spilling over and throughout rock and pop.

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